1. a substance that can be converted into a vitamin in the body
Usage: biochemistry

Examples

• Beta-carotene is a provitamin that the body converts to vitamin A.
• Many fruits and vegetables contain provitamins rather than active vitamins.
• The supplement contained provitamin D, which becomes active when exposed to sunlight.
• Researchers studied how efficiently the body converts this provitamin into its active form.
• Some provitamins are more stable in food storage than their corresponding vitamins.
• The orange color in carrots comes from beta-carotene, an important provitamin A.